Congress allows IVF coverage for wounded vets, with limits

WASHINGTON - Wounded veterans hoping to start families appeared to win a significant victory Thursday with a new law allowing coverage of fertility treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The legislation passed Congress on Wednesday night despite long opposition from conservatives, and it allows the VA to cover in vitro fertilization costs for the first time in 24 years. But it falls short of the ultimate goal of advocates – permanently lifting a 24-year-old ban on VA coverage of IVF -- and comes with some caveats.